USDA CORN DATA CORRECTION
Airtel says prepaid plan tweaks are only a trial, calls for industry-wide shift in data pricing to lift ARPU
Airtel has told analysts that its prepaid plan changes were an experiment to raise average revenue per user, not a structural pricing fix. MD Shashwat Sharma said sustained ARPU growth would require users to pay more in proportion to data consumption, arguing that India's telecom sector underprices heavy usage.
USDA to launch AI tool to check crop production data after errors
After the USDA discovered errors in its corn data from September, officials determined the AI tool would have flagged the problem and decided to use it on the crop production report due on November 10, USDA Under Secretary Scott Hutchins said in an interview.
Dead animals, swollen eyes, rat poison: Ohio breeder hid 800 chinchillas from inspectors for years; over 1,100 surrendered after shocking discovery
Dead animals, swollen eyes and open packets of rat poison were among the disturbing conditions uncovered at an Ohio chinchilla breeding facility. Federal inspectors also discovered that the breeder had allegedly hidden around 800 chinchillas in a separate building for years to avoid inspections. Following a federal investigation and a court-approved settlement, R & R Chinchilla Inc. has agreed to surrender more than 1,100 animals.
Investors in other markets would be envious of India multiples: Rich Handler, chief executive of Jefferies
Jefferies CEO Rich Handler believes Indian equities remain reasonably valued despite the market correction and says easing long-term capital gains taxes could attract foreign investors. He sees opportunities in India's AI and data centre sectors, argues that global capital outflows reflect external pressures, and believes concerns about an AI bubble warrant a healthy pause rather than alarm.
USDA revokes James Ritterspach's licence after over 1100 chinchillas rescued from Ohio breeder
In a concerning case of animal neglect, James F Ritterspach, the owner of R & R Chinchilla Inc., faced the permanent revocation of his breeding license. Inspections by the USDA uncovered severe neglect, revealing over 1,100 chinchillas imprisoned in hazardous living conditions. To further escalate the situation, Ritterspach attempted to conceal additional chinchillas and neglected their fundamental care.
AI meltdown: Kospi crashes 9%, hits 9-month low as Wall Street bloodbath after midterm elections spills to Asia; circuit breaker triggered
The sell-off followed a global market rout on Thursday, which saw the Nasdaq 100 plunge 6.4%, wiping out a record $2.3 trillion in market value. The weakness extended across Asia on Friday, with chip-heavy indices coming under pressure. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average and Taiwan's Taiex were also on course to enter technical bear market territory, having fallen 20% from their respective peaks.

ETMarkets Commodity Talk| Building a 5-year portfolio? Why gold could take the largest share of your commodity allocation, Deveya Gaglani decodes
In this edition of ETMarkets Commodity Talk, Deveya Gaglani, Senior Research Analyst – Commodities at Axis Direct, shares his views on the evolving commodity landscape and the role of gold, silver and industrial metals in a diversified portfolio. He also explains why gold could form the largest component of a long-term commodity allocation, while highlighting the risks of blindly buying the dip or chasing a sharp rally.

OpenAI kicks off charm offensive to change voters' view of data centers
Stunning victories by Democrats in US midterm elections this week have been interpreted by many as Americans repudiating tech industry plans to build data centers across the country.

Stock markets down today: Dow Jones plunges 1,753 points, S&P 500 drops 4% and Nasdaq enters correction - why Wall Street reversed its post-election rally
Stock markets down today: Wall Street's post-election rally quickly turned into a major sell-off as the Dow plunged 1,753 points and the Nasdaq entered correction territory. Fears that Democratic victories could slow AI data-center expansion triggered heavy losses in Nvidia, AMD, Micron and other technology stocks, wiping out Wednesday's gains.

Nasdaq set to confirm correction as AI stocks tumble
The shock selloff comes a day after the Democrats' election victory including in some key data-center states drove concerns about a slowdown in the AI data-center buildout, optimism about which had pushed stock markets to record highs earlier this year.

In 1830, chinaberry was introduced to the US as an ornamental tree; it later spread into forests across the South
Chinaberry trees, initially brought to the Southern U.S. in the 1830s for their beauty, have proliferated extensively. These invasive species create dense thickets that block sunlight, hindering the growth of native plants in ecosystems across Georgia and South Carolina. This situation underscores the urgency of managing ornamental plants wisely, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring and prompt removal to protect the health of our forests.

Rs 600 for 1,000 km journey: Nitin Gadkari proposes Rs 3 per unit for EV charging at night and Rs 5 during the day to boost EV adoption
Nitin Gadkari recommended varying electricity rates for electric vehicle charging to enhance usage in Maharashtra. He indicated that costs for traveling in electric vehicles are significantly lower than petrol or diesel cars. Gadkari mentioned the potential for solar power to support cheaper night-time electricity. He provided updates on alternative fuel technologies including electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Additionally, Gadkari discussed biofuels, biogas, and their role in environmental sustainability.

Australia data centre inquiry finds inadequate checks, stops short of moratorium
An inquiry into data centres by Australia's most populous state found approvals failed to consider the cumulative effect on resources and infrastructure but stopped short of calling for a moratorium, prompting a blistering rebuke from its chair.

Bayer CropScience Q2 profit rises 9% to Rs 166 crore despite 19% decline in revenue
Bayer CropScience Ltd has announced an impressive 8.84% growth in net profit, totaling Rs 166.2 crore for Q2 FY27. However, total income saw a 19.4% decline year-over-year, attributed to ongoing market challenges. Factors such as unpredictable monsoon patterns have disrupted both sowing and crop protection demand. In response, the company emphasizes efficiency improvements and portfolio enhancements, while the board has declared an interim dividend of Rs 90 per share.

Drought threatens India's 20% ethanol blending target as food takes priority
India faces a significant challenge in its ethanol production due to the lowest monsoon rainfall experienced in over a decade. This situation has prompted New Delhi to prioritize food security over its ethanol blending targets. Estimates suggest that the ethanol blending ratio may decrease this supply year from 20% to around 15%. Producers are being squeezed by increased corn prices and reduced purchasing prices for ethanol.

Apple’s robust India quarter; Giva’s $100 million funding
Apple posted record sales in India in the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

SBI hunts for weak links after suspected cyberattack exposed 3,897 customer records
State Bank of India (SBI) is investigating a suspected cyberattack that may have exposed 3,897 customer records, with root cause analysis still underway. The bank is focusing on containing the breach and fixing vulnerabilities after customer information, including names, contact details and loan records, appeared on the dark web.

Corning operationalises Pune optical plant; capacity expansion planned by 2027
The company’s other plant in Chennai, has begun production of finishing glass for the first time in India. Inaugurated in December, 2025, it is currently undergoing validation by original equipment manufacturers (OEM), and will commence commercial production within the next few quarters, Pillai said.

In 1913, a Corning physicist baked a cake in a cut-down railway-lantern glass jar; the experiment helped lead to heat-resistant cookware
In the early 1900s, the invention of heat-resistant glass marked a significant advancement, initially intended to safeguard railway lanterns from damage due to thermal shock. This remarkable creation serendipitously led to the formulation of PYREX cookware after a 1913 baking trial. Scientists at Corning fine-tuned this glass and launched a pie plate in 1915, which quickly became a staple in American kitchens.
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